Never Events

Never events are preventable medical mistakes that should never occur in healthcare settings. These incidents, which include wrong-site surgeries, retained surgical instruments, and incompatible blood transfusions, often lead to severe injury or death. Patients and families impacted by never events face physical and emotional hardships, with long-term health consequences in many cases. A Prince George's County never events lawyer at Foran & Foran, P.A. can help evaluate the incident's circumstances and identify where standards of care were neglected.

If a preventable hospital event has harmed you or a loved one, legal guidance can be essential to hold healthcare providers accountable. Foran & Foran's team of attorneys has extensive experience in cases involving avoidable patient falls, incompatible blood transfusions, and surgical errors, offering compassionate and effective representation. Just as with these other serious preventable events, seeking justice for your injury supports your recovery and promotes stronger standards in patient safety. Contact Foran & Foran today to discuss your rights and

Never events cover various severe medical errors, each entirely avoidable if healthcare providers follow established safety procedures. The following are some of the most harmful types of never events that affect patients:

The impact can be devastating when a surgical team mistakenly operates on the wrong patient or body part. Patients may face unnecessary surgery, additional recovery, and further procedures to correct the error. These types of mistakes indicate a breakdown in safety checks and communication before surgery, causing needless pain and suffering.

Receiving an incompatible blood type can lead to life-threatening reactions, including organ failure, circulatory shock, and death. Blood transfusion errors typically arise from lapses in verification processes meant to ensure compatibility. Hospitals must implement and follow strict guidelines to prevent such mistakes. Patients who endure complications due to incompatible blood transfusions face serious risks that could have been entirely avoided.

Leaving instruments inside a patient's body, such as sponges or clamps, is a clear example of preventable error. These retained items often cause infection and severe pain and may require additional surgery. Known as retained surgical items, these errors highlight critical issues in procedural checks and burden the patient's physical and emotional well-being unnecessarily.

Many hospital patients, especially those with limited mobility, rely on staff to prevent falls. Without attentive care, falls can result in fractures, head trauma, and extended hospital stays. Hospitals are responsible for creating a safe environment, particularly for vulnerable patients, and when these precautions aren't in place, patients endure harm that could have been easily prevented.

An air embolism, or air entering the bloodstream, can occur during medical procedures such as surgeries, catheter placements, or IV insertions. This event can lead to strokes, cardiac arrest, or organ failure. Hospitals have protocols to prevent air embolisms, and when healthcare staff neglect these practices, patients can suffer severe and potentially fatal consequences.

These events all result from failures in healthcare protocols and lead to significant pain, emotional distress, and financial hardship for patients and their families.

Victims of never events have the right to seek justice and hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for the harm caused. Proving negligence in these cases often requires establishing that the medical provider ignored standard safety protocols, exposing patients to unnecessary risk. Taking legal action in these situations not only seeks compensation but also encourages hospitals to strengthen patient safety practices.

A Prince George's County never events attorney at Foran & Foran can help build your case, collecting evidence, consulting with medical experts, and gathering the required attestation of merit from a qualified physician. This essential document shows that a healthcare provider's actions failed to meet accepted standards, supporting your claim for compensation.

Pursuing compensation for a never event can help you cover the costs of additional medical care, lost income, and emotional suffering. Holding healthcare facilities accountable encourages better standards and prevents future incidents. Like other serious preventable errors, addressing never events legally provides closure and a path toward recovery.

If a preventable event has harmed you or a loved one, contact Foran & Foran to understand your options. Our dedicated legal team is committed to helping you achieve justice and receive the support you need for healing and recovery.

Never events—serious, preventable medical errors—can cause devastating harm to patients. Whether it’s a surgical mistake, a preventable infection, or another life-altering incident, Foran & Foran is here to help you seek justice. Our experienced attorneys understand the unique challenges of these cases and are dedicated to holding negligent healthcare providers accountable. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation today, give Foran & Foran's Prince George's County medical malpractice lawyers a call at (301) 441-2022. We proudly represent clients in Hyattsville, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Waldorf, La Plata, Silver Spring, Rockville, and the surrounding areas.